Currently, the definitive treatment for lid retraction is surgery, which can be used to lengthen the lid itself or remove inflamed tissue from behind the eye, thus causing the eye to bulge less. In cases when patients first present to their physician with corneal ulceration or compression of the optic nerve, surgery may be performed immediately. However, in most instances, surgical procedures are delayed until the active stage of the disease has passed. Thus, most patients must endure the cosmetic and irritant symptoms of TED for up to two years.